Archos event June 11th: 5-inch Android tablet with voice expected

This one's a bit of a stretch but totally plausible. Archos just announced a press conference in Paris on June 11th -- that's a fact. However, the choice of Android-green in the invite above has caused widespread speculation that we'll be getting a first peep at Archos' heavily rumored Android-based device. Remember, TI was kind enough to give us the full specs on a 10-mm thin Archos Internet Media Tablet "with all the functionalities of a premium smartphone" back in February. At that time, TI listed specs like a 5-inch high-resolution screen, Adobe Flash support, TV recording, HD playback, 500GB of storage, 7 hours of video playback off battery, voice and HSUPA data radio all powered by a smokin' OMAP3440 processor from TI. If true then we can expect to see the device hinted at in the invite launch in Q3.

[Via SlashGear, thanks Chris]

Read -- Archos Press event
Read -- Archos Internet Media Tablet [February 9th, 2009]

[blahblah @ May 18th 2009 5:23AM]

This sounds fantastic. Is it coming to US? Do we use these 3.5G bands here?

If so, it may be time to trade in my G1.

[AndrewNoNumbers @ May 18th 2009 5:20PM]

This thing's not a phone so I guess you can look forward to carrying two Androids in your pocket.

[Charbax @ May 18th 2009 8:29PM]

The upcoming Archos Android device is a phone as well. That has been officially announced since last February all over the web.

4.8" screen device with a hard drive, is not too big. In fact it's perfect for the large resolution 800x480 screen to browse the Internet and watch videos (all codecs and up to 720p) with awesome quality. Check it out.

[RigvedMad @ May 18th 2009 5:37AM]

shoud have been atleast 7 inches

[warom @ May 18th 2009 6:15AM]

Thats what SHE said. (Sorry couldn't help mysqlf)

[warom @ May 18th 2009 6:20AM]

Myself* - my inner geekiness has been exposed! Flee!
*Runs away with arms waving in the air*

[Charbax @ May 18th 2009 8:11AM]

Archos always releases a 7" version for about $50 to $100 more expensive.

4.8" versions fit in most pockets nicely, the 7" version only fits in very large jacket pockets or a bag.

[cajm @ May 18th 2009 5:47AM]

Perhaps no android this day.....

[AndrewNoNumbers @ May 18th 2009 5:21PM]

Perhaps indeed..

[HereAndNow @ May 18th 2009 5:48AM]

Cool! Then, there will be Android smartphones, media tablets, netbooks and photo frames. Now we just need more options from more vendors.

[HereAndNow @ May 18th 2009 6:03AM]

Hopefully, they will use the HTC Hero build. The Android UI is becoming much more elegant, these days. Check out a recent YouTube video of it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OMrSTEBeyI

[CJ @ May 18th 2009 5:52AM]

I think it would be personally better if they included data/voice 3G, rather than just Data. Given, you can send text messages, but the option to actually USE it like a phone would be nice.

[Félix @ May 18th 2009 5:55AM]

this is awesome.

[alx @ May 18th 2009 6:53AM]

if the price will be not higher than 300 bucks, i think this device have a good chance on the mass market.

[Andrew @ May 18th 2009 10:10AM]

I'm guessing $500 retail if it's an MID, maybe $700 retail, $249 with contract if it's a phone.

[Charbox @ May 18th 2009 7:17AM]

This will be the greatest personal electronic and Internet product ever released.

Apple fanboys will be left drooling with the awesome internet browsing speed of this android-powered device which will have the most advanced hardware anywhere in the world, probably 4 generations ahead of anything else the competition can offer. It will be only 1% larger than the iPhone, but have 16 times the viewing area with super high resolution HD video. Enormous storage capacity will permit these devices to not only carry your entire video and music library, but the digitized contents of the Library of Congress, which will be bundled for free because that's just how Archos does things.

Of course this device will be fully "green", thereby ending any concern about global warming, and likely also bringing peace and harmony to the world.

This device will overnight destroy the market for MIDs, UMPCs, and Netbooks, and probably within a year will be the single most popular electronic device in the universe.

[Charbax @ May 18th 2009 8:13AM]

I am not Charbox.

[sinjinn @ May 18th 2009 8:18AM]

im looking forward to it too

[AndrewNoNumbers @ May 18th 2009 5:22PM]

Holy crap, both of you are legitimate.

[loosely_coupled @ May 18th 2009 10:40PM]

Wow... Fanboy much? The next generation iPhone/touch will use a Cortex-A8/PowerVR SGX processor just like the OMAP3, and the rumor is Apple has a small media tablet they've been working on for years. So we'll see...

[phrank @ May 18th 2009 7:25AM]

"Flee!
*Runs away with arms waving in the air*"

That's what SHE did.

[voodoo @ May 18th 2009 7:40AM]

I wonder will it have a bunch of $20 plugins for 'extra functionality' such as dialling numbers etc.

[chris @ May 18th 2009 2:09PM]

seriously, im sure they will be like Nintendo and charge you for a free internet browser, they nickel and dimed me with my archos 7

[TareX @ May 18th 2009 7:54AM]

That phone better literally have no rim, if it's going to sport a 5" screen and maintain pocket portability.

[Charbax @ May 18th 2009 8:15AM]

4.8" is still very pocketable and it's the minimum required if you want a confortable 800x480 browsing resolution and a HDTV home theater video playback experience (based on distance when held at arms length and the viewing angle).

[Theli @ May 18th 2009 7:55AM]

Let's hope it is compatible with the Android market place. If so, then this will be a considerable step up from their current offering.
Judging by the specs posted by TI, I would expect a price tag at $400+. It's clearly a high-end device.

[Theli @ May 18th 2009 7:58AM]

...for the 500 GB model, that is. They will probably provide cheaper models as well.

[Charbax @ May 18th 2009 8:21AM]

You can find the current 60GB model at $250. Surely Archos is improving on the hardware since their current Archos 5 September 2008 model, but basically it should be possible for them to do a model sold at the same price. Consider $250 is without any subventions by the telecoms. Consider that you have to pay $599 officially for an unlocked iphone.

[Daniel @ May 18th 2009 8:47AM]

"This one's a bit of a stretch but totally plausible."

Isn't this an oxymoron? How can you be plausible but a bit of a stretch?

[Bob Turner @ May 18th 2009 9:04AM]

Stay away from Archos.

There's a reason archos will get a product like this to the market first... it wont be finished. Half the features will cost extra and get released later.

The other half of promised features will never make it out the door, because by the time it's close to being released, support will be dropped for their newer units.

[Jason Stewart @ May 18th 2009 9:19AM]

I was about to say the same thing. I loved my Archos 605 Wifi, but paying for the extras was absurd, TVPortation became vaporware, and they pretty much dropped any mention or support of the 605 Wifi - their FLAGSHIP DEVICE - after a little over a year. From what I've heard, they're doing the same with their more recent devices.

I'll need a darn good reason to buy from them ever again. For now, Archos can suck it.

[gylman @ May 18th 2009 11:58AM]

Agreed. Archos is great at releasing bleeding edge 90% stable hardware with 80% complete software.

[Pingles @ May 18th 2009 1:22PM]

Never spend hundreds of dollars on a device that doesn't do what you want NOW. I own two Archos PMPs and bought each knowing what I was getting into. Both devices do exactly what I want and work flawlessly.

[chris @ May 18th 2009 2:07PM]

true, but with the release of more "open" operating system one would hope to not have to rely on those lazy bums over at archos and would think that it would allow the users to tweak and create thier own apps and fix's. hopefully.... If thats the case i would totally think about switching from my totally locked down Archos 7 to the new android based system. If not, i would ask someone to slap archos in the mouth for not working hard enough to provide even the most basic support that we deserve, i should have to go through a reboot every time i click the "favorites" button, and i should get tech support responding to that telling me that i should just upgrade the firmware when i already have.

[jntaylor @ May 20th 2009 1:38PM]

My wife's 605 4GB wifi died after 6 months of use. Was told that it would be 170.00 to fix. (No Thanks)

I'll wait and see what the new ZuneHD or new Ipod Touch has in store to replace her's.

/still loving my PSP2000 as a PMP!

[James Young @ May 18th 2009 9:42AM]

listen to bob turner

[Gorilla800lbs @ May 18th 2009 10:03AM]

The Android robot looks way too much like the "critter" from Escapist Magazine's Zero Punctuation column.

[Guru @ May 18th 2009 11:32AM]

I wonder if this aimed at iPhone iPod touch .?
If over $229 doubt will make a dent in apple sales.

[chris @ May 18th 2009 2:03PM]

Awesome my Archos 7 becomes officially outdated in June! well at least mine is bigger!

[rudy @ May 19th 2009 11:12PM]

What they should do is look at the design of of the cowon s9, make it slightly bigger, with the same amoled screen, omap3 and android and they have themselves a winner as long as it's not over 300 dollars and they don't force you to pay for plugins.

[Pathik @ May 21st 2009 1:44AM]

Awesome news. Android is going to kick some serious arse in the MID market

[TI Guy @ May 22nd 2009 10:39AM]

We’ve been really pleased with the Archos products shipping today, and are eagerly anticipating the shipment of their upcoming announced products. Archos does a great job bringing cutting edge features and capabilities to market quickly in compelling products. Anything that they would do with Android should be just as exciting.

Thanks Engadget for the props on our “smoking OMAP3440 processor!” It’s definitely smoking fast, and also designed with some clever power management techniques to keep it running nice and cool … We think OMAP3 provides the perfect platform to maximize the Android experience with super-speedy UI/apps performance, advanced 720p multimedia, and high quality imaging.

Can’t wait to see what Archos announces at the event!